Kelly grimaced. "Not another one looking for girly attention?" It happened from time to time—men who paid for that one-on-one workout when they had no need for it. Mostly they wanted to show off in front of a woman and chat, maybe score.
"Don't worry, this one is easy on the eye. Go, do your duty, soldier." She pointed at the door.
Kelly saluted and headed off. Walking along the corridor, she made a mental note to update the championship league chart and the monthly challenge posters. Hearing the news about Clayton and Jay had lifted her sprits. She was glad. It was good to know that they were happy.
At the door to the small weights room she stopped in her tracks. The "closed for maintenance" sign was back on the door. "Huh? I'm sure I changed that."
Peering through the glass door, she couldn't see anyone waiting. The client must be getting changed, she figured, or maybe he thought the gym was really closed. As she walked in she was about to flip the sign, when she sensed another presence. The door shut behind her. Turning, she caught sight of a tall, familiar figure standing behind the door. Tommy.
A hot thrill ran through her entire body. Her heart immediately started to race, her hand going to her throat. It was him. He'd found her—he'd been waiting for her.
He kept his hand on the door, holding it shut, and scrutinized her from top to toe. "Ready for a stiff workout, Kelly?"
Oh, yes. "Maybe," she breathed.
His mouth moved in a slow, suggestive smile. "I've been having these relentless dreams about you straddling me, while you spot my weights...so, I bought your time for two hours, and then I paid the other customers to get the hell out of here." He stepped closer to her. "You were a hard woman to track down."
She tried to get the image of straddling him out of her mind and lifted her chin, looking him in the eye. "But you managed the job. I'm impressed."
"I never let a client down, and I was still on paid time through Sunday."
"Cheeky."
He nodded. "Ah, but I'm learning from the mistress of cheek."
He looked good in black shorts and a tight white T-shirt, his magnificent body shown to perfection. "How did you find me?"
"You mentioned two consecutive years winning the Southern Counties canoeing title, that nailed it for me, Ms. Burton. I went through the records. Only one woman fitted the bill. Once I'd found out your last name, I started calling round all the gyms in London." He ran a finger down one side of her jaw, softly caressing her chin with his thumb.
"I bought your time. Finding your maintenance sign was an added bonus. Now I've got you all to myself, and it's payback time." His intentions were perfectly clear.
Kelly shook her head, unease rising. If they made love again, she might not be able to walk away from him like she had before.
"And this time you won't get away so easy."
His words only confirmed all her fears. "I shouldn't be doing this on work time." She was reaching out for excuses, denying him, denying herself.
He smiled. "I've figured you out, Kelly. You're a strong, independent woman, you take what you want, but you shun emotional involvement."
"So you think you know me now?" Backing away, she could barely take it in. He'd really thought about it.
"You're also honest and true, and you have a strange effect on people. Clayton and Jay came out, because of you."
"No." She shook her head. "I saw it in the paper, but it had nothing to do with me."
"You had an impact on them, you made Clayton think. He told me that himself, so don't you go shaking your head at me, madam. I've just seen them off at the airport. Clayton sends his thanks. They both do."
Could it be true? She didn't realize that what she'd said would have any impact on him, other than explaining her own honest intentions. "I just...said what I thought."
"That's it exactly. There's something about you. You changed my life too, just by being in it. You're a reckless, headstrong woman, and I love that about you."
Love. Panic hit her. She'd been glad to see him, thrilled, but nerves had taken over. He was talking about stuff that unsettled her.
He continued, ignoring her denial, but standing between her and the door. "Now that you've had your revenge, I wondered if you felt any differently?" His expression was serious. "Do you think two hours of your time will be long enough?"
"Long enough for what, exactly?"
"Long enough to talk you into seeing me under regular circumstances." He moved closer, and put his hands on her shoulders, squeezing them. Then he ran his fingers down her back, hauling her body against his.